Container



May 1, 1928. v 1,668,179 I A. H. T, WILLIAMS CONTAINER Filed July 15. 1926 INVENTOR A.H.T. WILLIA Ms ATTORNEY.

Patented May 1, 1928. v I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR H. 'I'. WILLIAMS, OI PORTLAND, OBEGON.

CONTAINER.

Application filed July 15, 1928. Serial Io. 188,580.

This invention relates enerally to the art of Constructing meta shells with or withoutv closed ends for the pur ose of using same for containers or con nits.

he main object of this invention is to construct a metal shell in such a manner that a relatively thin wall can be employed, considering the cross sectional area of the shell and the pressure to which it maybe sub'ected.

he second object is to construct a shell capable of resisting large internal pressures and having a shape whlch will permit same of buildings.

The fifth object is ,to construct a shell especially adapted for the fabrication of high pressure containers for gas to be used within ordinary low pressure containers,

specici reference bein made to my co-pend ing application, Seria Number 121,801..

The sixth object is to construct the shelll so that the rivets in its joints willbe in shear instead of in tension. K

These, and other objects, will become more apparent from the specification following as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which 2.

Figure 1 is a cross section of a form of the shell employing riveted joints. Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a tank having a shell as shown in Figure 1 and having bulging ends. Figure 3 is a cross section similar to Figure 1 but showing welded joints instead of riveted. Figure 4:

is an enlarged cross section through a riveted joint. Figure 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 4. Figure 6 is a section taken along the line 6 6 in Figure 4.

Similar numbers of reference refer to the similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawing in the simpler form of shell employing welded joints, as illustrated in Figure 3, t e entire shell consists of three units or lobes 10* which are parts of true cylinders having their over-lapped portions cut away and substituted by straight walls or webs 11 i'oined at the center 12 and connected to the obes 10 by the sides 13. Curved plates 14 which conform with the shape of the lobes 1O connect the lobrs l0 and the plates 11. The stresses in the material of the lobes 10 are carried by the members 13, the plate 11 being required only to sustain the resultant force between its pair of members 13.

The function of the curved plates 14 is merely to maintain the cylindrical shape of the lobes 10 at all points, except those in which the sides can be subjected to counter-acting pressures. members 13 are not subjected to lateral pressures from within the tank at any time, it being necessary to provide openings 15 in the members 13 to prevent any possible accumulation of pressure between the memhere 1]., 13 and 14. v

If heads 16 or bottoms are required these can be in any convenient form ranging from a fiat bottom for an open tank to the inwardly or outwardly bulging heads 16 or even. emispherical ends without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Figures 1, 2, 4, 5 and .6 the construction is similar to that shown in Figure 3,

' except that the material in the lobes 10"- is Alternating with the straps 17 are-the straps 19 which join the'plates 11 to the plates In other wordsthe 11 on the opposite sides of which are secured the channel irons 20. The curved lates M- connect the lobes 10 to the mom ers 11 It can be seen that in this form of the device, or that described in Figure 3," that the straight central plates 11 or 11 will handle only up roximately the resultant of the forces to w ich the plates 13 or 13* are subjected Althou h I have so arranged the an ular relation tween the members 13 an the plate .11 and the members 13- and the plate 11*- in a manner to ually divide the forces, it is obvious that,.ow1ng to the lateral thrust against the plates 14 and 14 that the tension on these members will be somewhat greater than on the material in the outer shell, although by this construction it is possible tomake the members 11 or 11* much lighter than would otherwise be practical.

If heads are employed the radial plates also serve to stay these heads at their intersections.

The construction shown for the longitudinal joints'also applies tothe intersections of the various end plates (if used) with the radial stays.

Suitable brace members (not shown) can be provided for members normally in tension to enable same to withstand compression if desired. 7

- It must be understood that the same construction would apply where three or more vertical shells are overlapped and joined together as when cylindrical shells are so lobe consisting of a straight portion tangent to its curved portion, the tangent portions of adjacent sides having spaced joining strap means, an I-beam outside of said strap means, a radial web between each pair of lobes, strap means between said first mentioned strap means for joining said radial member to its I-beam, each ,radial plate forming an angle with each of said tangent plates approximately equal to the smaller angle between the radial plates themselves, means for joining said radial lates at their lines of intersection curved filer plates between said lobes and radial plates adapted to prevent said tangent plates from being subjected to lateral pressure and end means for said shell.

3. A shell having three segmental lobes whose centers are disposed around the center of said shell and having plates radiating from said center passing through the points of'intersection of said lobes and projecting beyond such points of intersection, said projecting portions having longitudinal structural members attached thereto parallel with 5 the center lines of said lobes, and tension means between the adjacent lateral edges of said lobes bearing against said structural members.

ARTHUR H. T, WILLIAMS. 

